5 Things You Need to Know About Preventing Wrinkles

1. Antioxidants Keep Your Skin Smooth

Eat foods with lots of antioxidants in them to help prevent wrinkles. Antioxidants help slow down the process of aging skin losing its elasticity and firmness. Some foods that are rich in antioxidants include grapefruit, cherries, raspberries, beets, spinach, peppers, apricots, soybeans, oats, nuts and seeds. The best way to ensure you get enough antioxidants is to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

2. Always Wear Sunscreen

Using sunscreen daily is crucial if you are trying to prevent facial wrinkles. UV rays are responsible for much of the premature aging that people notice on their skin. Use foundation that contains sunscreen if you'd like, but always apply sunscreen every 2 to 4 hours if you are out in the sun. Reapply sunscreen every time you swim, sweat or shower. Protecting your skin from the sun, regardless of the time of year, is important no matter how young or old you are.

3. Prevent the Big, Bad Skin Damage

If you smoke and tan, you're destined for wrinkly skin at a very young age. Not only can smoking cause cancer, but the act of pursing your lips to draw in the smoke itself can create wrinkles around your lips. Stay out of tanning booths, too. You're exposing your skin to UV rays just as you are outdoors in the sun, and the rays are even more concentrated in a tanning booth. Besides, who actually applies sunscreen before trying to get an indoor tan? Overall, tanning and smoking are unhealthy actions that eventually destroy your skin.

4. Smile and Relax Your Face

Do you furrow your brow when you're concentrating? Do you spend more time frowning than you do smiling? Most stress that you carry in your face, whether it's in the form of clenching your jaw or frowning, causes deep wrinkles to develop over time. Relax your face by concentrating on softening all of the individual muscles. Get a facial from time to time to help reduce stress and tension. Avoid squinting that causes crow's feet around your eyes by wearing sunglasses whenever it's bright outside.

5. Smooth It Out with Moisturizers

Moisturizing your skin from the outside is a good way to reduce the appearance of wrinkles that have already formed. Choose a facial moisturizer with sunscreen in it for the added benefit of sun protection. Moisturize your skin from the inside out by drinking at least eight glasses of water a day. Staying hydrated gives your skin more elasticity and prevents the appearance of dry, wrinkly skin.